Device for stabilizing the course of the tunnelling element

ABSTRACT

A device for stabilizing the course of the tunnelling element, provided with a follow-up unit interacting with the walls of the hole and operating the power units which introduce corrections into the course of the tunnelling element.

United States Patent Kostylev et a]. 45 July 18, 1972 [5'4] DEVICE FORSTABILIZING THE COURSE OF THE TUNNELLING References Cit d ELEMENT UNITEDSTATES PATENTS [72] Invemm Dmlmv'ch 3,138,213 6/1964 Brandon ..175/73Derzhavma 42; 3,141,512 7/1964 Gaskelletal. .175/61 Filed:

Stepanovich Gurkov, ulitsa Derzhavina, l9, kv. 68; Khai Berkovich Ikach,ulitsa Televizionnaya, ll, kv. ll; Nikolai Prokhorovich Chepurnoi,prospekt Dzerzhinskogo, 25a, kv. 53, all of Novosibirsk, U.S.S.R.

Dec. 15, 1970 Appl. No.: 98,273

u.s. c1 ..l75/76, 175/61, 299/30 1111.01 F b 7/10 Field of Search..l75/6l, 73, 76, 26; 299/30 3,396,806 8/1968 Benson Pn'maryxaminerRichard E. Moore Assismnl Examiner-Lawrence J. StaabAttorney-Holman & Stern [57] ABSTRACT A device for stabilizing thecourse of the tunnelling element, provided with a follow-up unitinteracting with the walls of the hole and operating the power unitswhich introduce corrections into the course of the tunnelling element.

2 Chin, 3 Drawing figures Patnted July 18, 1972 DEVICE FOR STABILIZINGTHE COURSE OF THE TUNNELLING ELEMENT This invention relates to thedevices for stabilizing the course of the moving tunnelling element andcan be used with the self-propelled tunnelling elements and with thedriving bits used for making holes in the ground by the compactionmethod mainly for laying pipes or cables under the surface of highwaysand railways.

It is known that the tunnelling element can deviate from the presetcourse owing to heterogeneity of the ground or while encountering solidinclusions or other obstacles.

There have already been attempts to counter this disadvantage by the useof devices which stabilize the course of the moving tunnelling element.

One of these devices comprises some power units with a variable-volumechamber (pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders) which guide the tunnellingelement in the right direction, this element having the form of atapered bit articulated to the front end of the pipe driven through theground.

The direction of movement in this device is checked with the aid ofoptical instruments installed immovably in a pit near the mouth of thehole, said instruments registering the deviation of the light raypassing through the pipe from the source of light located inside thedriving bit. The optical instruments in this device are linked with thevalve mechanisms which control the source into the cylinders guiding thetunnelling element the supply of the fluid medium from in the presetdirection (see, for example Underground laying of pipelines, Mashgiz1964, ON. Peskov, page 49).

The known device has a narrow field of application, i.e., only with thedriving bits of the pipes forced through the ground. This device cannotbe used with more efficient selfpropelled tunnelling elements of, say,impact type because the known means of checking the deviation of thetunnelling element cannot be used with this equipment.

Besides, the known devices are complicated in manufacture and operation.

The present invention is intended to eliminate the aforesaiddisadvantages.

The main object of the invention is to provide a device for stabilizingthe course of the moving tunnelling element with an improved follow-upunit which makes the claimed device suitable for use with various typesof the tunnelling elements.

The device described in the invention comprises the power units guidingthe tunnelling element, these units having a variable-volume chamberfilled with a fluid medium under pressure from the valve mechanisms forguiding the tunnelling element, each of said valve mechanisms beingconnected with at least one variable-volume chamber and with theinstrument registering the deviations of the tunnelling element. Theimprovement consists in that the follow-up unit is made in the form of afeeler mechanism articulated to the tunnelling element and interactingwith the walls of the hole while the valve mechanisms are connected withsaid feeler mechanism and admit the fluid medium into the correspondingchamber when the feeler mechanism and tunnelling element turn withrelation to each other.

It is preferable for the feeler mechanism to be connected with thetunnelling element by an articulated rod and for the valve mechanisms tobe mounted directly on the tunnelling element and to be actuated by saidarticulated rod when it is shifted owing to the turning of the feelermechanism and tunnelling element.

An advantage of the invention lies in that it uses comparatively simplemeans for ensuring automatic control of the course of the tunnellingelement of any type and for correcting its possible deviations from thepreset course.

Now the invention will be described in detail by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows the claimed device and the self-propelled tunnellingelement turned with relation to each other in the hole;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line "-11 in FIG. 1 showing thearrangement of the variable-volume chambers around the tunnellingelement;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line III-III in FIG. 1 showing thearrangement of the valve mechanisms on the tunnelling element and thearticulated rod interacting with the valve mechanisms when one of themis open.

The claimed device comprises a feeler mechanism 1 (FIG. 1) articulatedto the tunnelling element 2 and interacting with the walls of the hole 3made by said element. It is practicable that the tunnelling element 2 beof the pneumatic impact type described in French Pat No. 1,515,348 U.S.Pat. No. 3,580,014 Brit. Pat. Nos. 1,152,249 and 1,170,167, of theauthors of the present invention and intended for making holes bycompaction of ground.

The feeler mechanism 1 is fastened to the tunnelling element 2 by thearticulated rod 4 in such a manner that said mechanism would be able torepeat all the motions of the element 2 in the hole 3.

Equispaced around the tunnelling element 2 are several variable-volumechambers 5, 5a and 5b (FIG. 2) whose walls are made of an elasticrubber-canvas material. These chambers are filled with a fluid medium,e.g., air, under pressure so as to shift the tunnelling element 2 in therequired direction.

To prevent the wear of the chambers 5, 5a and 5b caused by frictionagainst the walls of the hole, a cylindrical housing 6 is provided, oneend of which is slipped on the tunnelling element 2 in such a mannerthat said housing can turn with relation to the rounded part 7 of thewider section 8 of the tunnelling element 2 under the pressure of thefluid medium fed into the chambers 5, 5a and 5b.

When the material of the chambers 5, 5a and 5b is sufficientlywear-resistant the housing 6 may be omitted in which case the chamberswill be secured directly to the tunnelling element 2.

There is a possibility to substitute said chambers for hydraulie orpneumatic cylinders (not shown in the drawings) located radially withrespect to the tail section of the tunnelling element 2.

Each chamber 5, 5a and 512 has an outlet hole 9 and a hose 10 foradmitting fluid medium under pressure. Each hose 10 has valve mechanism11 or lla or llb for communicating the corresponding chamber with thesource (not shown) of the fluid medium under pressure.

The bodies 12 (FIG. 3) of the valve mechanisms 11, 11a and 11b aresecured in the tail section of the tunnelling element 2 while theirclosing elements 13 are held by the springs 14 in the extreme position,shutting off the supply of the fluid medium, and are in contact with thearticulated rod 4, following its motions.

An imperative prerequisite for efficient operation of the device lies inthat area of passage through each valve mechanism 11, lla and 11b andthe hoses 10 connected with them should be considerably larger than thearea of passage through the outlet holes 9 of the chambers 5, 5a and 5bin order to keep the fluid medium in them under pressure.

The air is fed to the tunnelling element 2 through a hose 15. A hole 17in the partition 16 of the feeler mechanism 1 lets out the used air fromthe chambers 5, 5a and 5b and from the tunnelling element 2.

The claimed device functions as follows.

When the tunnelling element 2 moves on the preset course, its axiscoincides with that of the feeler mechanism 1 and the rod 4 ispositioned either coaxially or parallel with their axes. If thetunnelling element 2 deviates by chance from the preset course its axisis shifted from that of the feeler mechanism 1 and the rod 4 iscorrespondingly shifted too.

The shifted rod 4 presses the closing element 13 of at least one valvemechanism 11 or 11a or llb.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the rod 4 actuates the closing element 13 ofthe valve mechanism 11a which opens and puts the corresponding chamber5a (FIG. 2) in communication with the source of fluid medium underpressure.

In view of the fact that the area of passage through the valve mechanism11a and the admission hose 10 is considerably larger than that of thehole 9 of the chamber 5a, the latter is filled with the fluid mediumunder pressure. This creates a force shifting the cylindrical housing 6and producing an additional asymmetry inthe resistance to the movementof the tunnelling element so that the latter is correspondingly shifted.The magnitude of this shifting a is shown in FIG. 2.

The trial tests of the claimed device have proved the simplicity of itsoperation and accuracy of control.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for stabilizing the course of a tunnelling elementcomprising: power units interacting with said tunnelling element andprovided with variable-volume chambers filled with a fluid medium underpressure for guiding said tunnelling element; a feeler mechanismfollowing the deviations of said tunnelling element, articulating meanslinking the feeler mechanism to the tunnelling element, said feelermechanism interacting with the walls of the hole; and valve mechanismscontrolling the supply of the fluid medium into said variablevolumechambers, each valve mechanism communicating with at least one of saidchambers, said valve mechanisms being connected with said feelermechanism and admitting the fluid medium into the corresponding chamberwhen said feeler mechanism and tunnelling element turn with relation toeach other.

2. A device as claimed in claim I wherein the articulating means betweensaid feeler mechanism and the tunnelling element consists of anarticulated rod, and said valve mechanism are located directly on thetunnelling element and are actuated by the rod when the latter isshifted due to relative turning of said feeler mechanisms and tunnellingelement.

1. A device for stabilizing the course of a tunnelling elementcomprising: power units interacting with said tunnelling element andprovided with variable-volume chambers filled with a fluid medium underpressure for guiding said tunnelling element; a feeler mechanismfollowing the deviations of said tunnelling element, articulating meanslinking the feeler mechanism to the tunnelling element, said feelermechanism interacting with the walls of the hole; and valve mechanismscontrolling the supply of the fluid medium into said variable-volumechambers, each valve mechanism communicating with at least one of saidchambers, said valve mechanisms being connected with said feelermechanism and admitting the fluid medium into the corresponding chamberwhen said feeler mechanism and tunnelling element turn with relation toeach other.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the articulatingmeans between said feeler mechanism and the tunnelling element consistsof an articulated rod, and said valve mechanism are located directly onthe tunnelling element and are actuated by the rod when the latter isshifted due to relative turning of said feeler mechanisms and tunnellingelement.